Shepard High School students are getting a chance to turn their creativity into action with the school’s new Art, Design and Fashion Club. The club, led by Digital Marketer and Creative Director Jalyn Stepney, offers students a space to explore art, fashion, and design while gaining confidence and real-world experience.
“The club was inspired by the incredible creativity I saw in our students and the desire to give them a space where their artistic voices could shine,” Stepney said. “Many students expressed interest in fashion, styling, design, digital art, and even modeling, but didn’t have a dedicated place to explore those passions. I wanted to create a program where they could build confidence, learn new skills, and see how art and fashion can be powerful forms of self-expression.”
Meeting every other Tuesday at Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave, Palos Heights, the club is open to students of all grade levels who are interested in visual arts, fashion, photography, and creative direction. Members will work on fashion sketching, photography, styling, mood boards, basic sewing, editorial shoots, hands-on art projects, and creative direction. They will also have opportunities to visit fabric stores, learn from Chicago artists in workshops, and participate in a major spring project such as a student-led fashion show or curated exhibition.
“The goal is to help students understand both the art and industry sides of fashion and design,” Stepney said.
Students are already feeling the impact. Trinity, a student at Shepard High, said, “I love fashion club because I got to unlock a new confidence in myself I thought I could never have.”
Lia, another club member, added, “I joined fashion club because I heard there was an opportunity to model and I hadn’t modeled since I was younger. I always loved it, and it was so fun hitting the runway once again.”
Kaliyah, a club member from Palos Heights, described the experience as transformative. “I joined fashion club because I wanted to explore and try something new. Yes, I joined because I wanted to model and look cute on the runway, but I also wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and embrace my natural beauty. Let’s be real here: you don’t often see Black girls like me with thick, healthy locs slaying the runways. Fashion club was my way of changing the game.”
Stepney said students gain confidence, creative problem-solving skills, and hands-on experience, all while discovering their own creative voices. “For many of them, it’s their first chance to see their concepts come to life, whether through a photoshoot, a styled look, or a runway moment. It’s incredibly empowering and shows them that their creativity matters,” she said.
With the combination of artistic exploration and practical skills, Shepard High’s Art, Design and Fashion Club is providing students a platform to dream big and express themselves fully.
